Blue House: President Lee's 'Term Limit' Remarks Mean Re-election Is Impossible

Senior Secretary Says "Second Term Already Prohibited"

Seong Gihong, Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Relations and Communication, stated on the 10th regarding President Lee Jaemyung’s remarks about "term limits," that "Reelection is simply not possible, and it is a matter that cannot be considered under any circumstances."

In an interview on MBC Radio’s "Kim Jongbae’s Focus" earlier that morning, Secretary Seong was asked whether it is appropriate to directly interpret President Lee’s comments as an explicit refusal of reelection. He responded, "I think that interpretation is possible."

Yonhap News Agency

The previous day, while visiting Paris, France, President Lee held a meeting with overseas Koreans and said, "In any case, my term is clearly limited by the Constitution." Although this remark was made in the context of emphasizing the importance of diplomacy early in his term, some have interpreted it as President Lee indirectly articulating his position regarding the debate over constitutional amendment for consecutive terms.

Secretary Seong explained, "There have been many opinions requesting the President to clarify his stance," adding, "There may be another opportunity for him to speak on this matter, not just at a meeting with overseas Koreans but also at another public event to meet with the people."

He went on to say, "It is not that reelection is prohibited simply because the President says he will not seek it, but because the Constitution itself already forbids it," and questioned, "Isn't the idea of fundamentally altering the constitutional order something unthinkable?"

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